Proteas march to series sweep

Fast bowler impresses on ODI bow; New Zealand slip to 3-0 whitewash

Marchant de Lange claimed four wickets and Hashim Amla hit 76 as South Africa claimed a 3-0 win over New Zealand with a five-wicket victory in the final one-day international.

Paceman De Lange, 21, marked his ODI debut with 4-46 to help dismiss New Zealand for 206 in 47 overs after they had been sent in at Eden Park.

Opening batsman Amla set the tone for South Africa's successful run chase with seven fours in his 86-ball contribution.

Albie Morkel, promoted to number three, slammed three sixes in his 41, Wayne Parnell hit 27 and JP Duminy 25 as the Proteas raced towards the winning line.

The Black Caps attack did claim five wickets but the tourists always had plenty in reserve and victory was secured when skipper AB De Villiers dispatched the second delivery of the 44th over for six.

Bogged down

Brendon McCullum top scored for the Black Cats with 47 off 59 but, after getting off to a slow start, the hosts could not recover and they never looked comfortable against the pace of De Lange and Dale Steyn.

New Zealand, having already lost the series, looked determined to bat out the overs after losing the toss as their openers dug in, but both fell cheaply and Rob Nicol in particular, with 12 runs off 40 balls, was guilty of getting bogged down.

McCullum tried to up the rate with some powerful and intelligent boundaries, but when he lobbed a simple catch off De Lange to backward-point fielder Faf du Plessis, who also held a stunner to dismiss Martin Guptill, the Black Caps were in trouble.

Kane Williamson was run out by Du Plessis for 22 off 43 balls, before debutant Colin de Grandhomme injected a bit of life into proceedings.

He got his first runs in one-day internationals with a six of Wayne Parnell, then advanced down the track to claim another maximum off JP Duminy.

He pulled a third off Lonwabo Tsotsobe, but fell for a run-a-ball 36, run out looking for runs as he struggled against pace. Thereafter it was something of a procession as New Zealand's last six wickets went down for 46.